Out of Context

I was forwarded a political-religious e-mail over the weekend from a gentleman in my church that said:

"This is the scariest election we as Christians have ever faced. From the looks of the polls, the Christians aren't voting Christian values. We all need to be on our knees. Do you believe we can take God at His word? His scripture gives us, as Christians, ownership of this land and the ability to call upon God to heal it. I challenge you to do so. We have never been more desperate than now for God to heal our land."

The e-mail then quoted 2 Chronicles 7:14 as its Scriptural foundation:

"[if] My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Even though I've been accustomed to hearing this verse used during election seasons, the fact that the verse itself has been taken out of context and run through the political washing machine always bothers me. This may be the most misinterpreted verse of the Old Testament used by Christians in America today. I hear it on Christian radio and see it in Christian bookstores. Young Christians across the nation rally around this verse every time they gather at school flagpoles to pray. But what does it really mean? Who are the "My people" called by "My name"? I think it useless to point out the truth about this verse, but here are a few things to ponder:

1. Context -- The verse comes from a paragraph of dialogue delivered by God to Israel's King Solomon in a dream.

2. Grammar -- It is a conditional statement preceded by and followed by declarations. God says He will hear prayers offered at the Temple before and after verse 14. The verse itself is introduced by a clause... IF in times of famine or pestilence, verse 13 says...

3. Time -- God is speaking to Solomon at a time before Christ -- before the Church. He is having a one-on-one conversation (one-sided, I might add!) with the wise king, who has just constructed a Temple to house the manifest presence of God.

4. Interpretation -- Who is the "My people" called by "My name"? Israel. Yes, folks, it's not America. In fact, Ethiopia has a greater claim to being a theocracy than the U.S. of A. After all, Christianity is the official religion there. It is not the official religion of the U.S. Israel is the one who prayed at the Temple. Israel received famine and pestilence as a result of its sin. Israel was called upon to humble itself and turn to the Temple and pray for healing. Its land was hurt by its sin. Israel is the recipient of this conditional promise.

5. Covenants -- God has made no covenant with a nation since Sinai. The founding fathers of the USA did not make a covenant with God. Not all believed in God. Not all believed in the deity of Jesus Christ. And God certainly didn't reach down to them to speak to them in a dream and promise them things.

You see, God saves individuals now, not nations. In fact, God even spoke to and saved individuals outside of the Law in the Old Testament! 2 Chronicles 7:14 does not apply to America. It never did. It never will.

Is this election scary? Not to me. God is in control. And He loves you and He loves me no matter who is in the Oval Office. And He asks you to pray for that person and then choose to live in peace and quietness under his authority (1 Timothy 2:1-3; Rom 13:1-3). Can you accept this? I can.